Rusticated/sandblasted or Smooth?

[foggymountain]

Smooth because it has the least stain.

 

[batdemon]

Up until recently I have always preferred a smooth finish.

Now, though, I am leaning more towards rusticated.

 

[joeahearn]

Smooth by far, then a good blast. I have rusticated pipes, but they are a distant third choice for me, all other things being equal.

 

[cajundad]

My favorites are blasted , but smooth with no fills and nice grain is beautiful as well . I think that the thing with blasted briar is the , comfort to grip , not as delicate ( scratched and dings are better hidden ) , and a good pipe maker can be very creative with blasts , and rustications .

 

[austinxpipe]

I like the way rusticated feels in my hand, but I appreciate the aesthetic quality of a smooth pipe as well. My first briar, my Aldo Velani, is smooth bent billiard and its starting to get these lovely waves of dark and lighter color. But then again like the way the rustic look brings out a almost raw quality to the look and feel. So tough, and I could go on for a while. I'll choose rusticated.

 

[pstlpkr]

While I do have all three types.

First and foremost my affinity is for smooth straight tight grain.

e.g. See my signature below.

::

 

[madmurdoc]

Every now and then a rustic or blasted pipe will catch my eye, but I really love seeing the grain.

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

Most of my pipes are smooth, but my preference right now is sandblast. As mentioned earlier the pipe needs to speak to me.

 

[matchstickman]

Im gonna be one of the lone dissenters here and say smooth, particularly smooth pipes that have birdseye grain on them. Few things are as beautiful to me as good birdseye grain and I havent seen a lot of pipes with full on birdseye, but I am always on the hunt for one. Not to say I don't enjoy a fully rusticated black finish on a pipe either, but if I had a choice I would go with smooth.

 

[thesmokindragon]

Really like all the new sandblast models coming out...

 

[cigrmaster]

I honestly love the look of a beautiful Birds Eye but unfortunately the price on the ones I like are way over my price threshold. Some of my favorite Birds Eye pipes are from Eltang and those are all 800.00 plus.
So I buy sandblasted pipes because they are my second favorite. I really like a tight ring grain and I do like the feel of a nicely blasted pipe better than smooth. Here is one of my favorite blasted pipes, from Rad Davis.

 

[austinxpipe]

Every now and then a rustic or blasted pipe will catch my eye, but I really love seeing the grain.

Are you implying you cannot see grain on non smooth pipe? :wink:

Here is one of my favorite blasted pipes, from Rad Davis

cigarmaster, I always love when you share pics. Everything you've shown has been incredible.

 

[oldredbeard]

Given the choice, I prefer a smooth. But I have some very nice blasted and rusticated pipes also, like several have said it has to speak to me, or be to good a deal to pass up. :rofl:

 

[cigrmaster]

austin, thank you.
roth, lol, while that is nice, this is what I am talking about.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOM-ELTANG-ESKIMO-PIPE-DENSE-GRAIN-UNSMOKED-/380540389181?nma=true&si=CxHGVqyVsjKQouFpjlyyl5snbQU%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

[bigboi]

Cigrmaster that

tom eltang is beautiful

 

[phred]

My current (n00b) preference is for smooth finishes. This may change as I gain experience. I'm already seeing some examples of partial rustication in photos that y'all have posted that are intriguing...

 

[numbersix]

Harris - that is a beaut. :worship:
Make that a group 6 billiard, black or cumberland stem, and it's my Holy Grail of pipes (at least for the present moment). ::

 

[robusthermit]

I prefer sandblasted/rusticated. I am usually pretty hard on my pipes and sandblasted/rusticated show less wear and tear.

 

[cigrmaster]

six, thanks buddy. I wanted one of those natural billiards the minute I saw one of Rad's that had been sold at smokingpipes. I had commissioned a bunch of pipes from him, and moved this one to the head of the line.
robusthermit, you make a very valid point, people who are rough or clumsy are much better served staying away from smooth pipes. Besides the old saying holds true, you cannot smoke grain.
bigboi, check out this one. http://briarblues.com/joho50.htm. One day I will own an Eltang. I am kicking myself for missing a steal on ebay a few weeks ago. A beauty went off at only 300 or so and I forgot to watch it.

 

[austinxpipe]

Besides the old saying holds true, you cannot smoke grain.

:worship: